Canadian Horse of the Year

It is the most prestigious honour in Canadian thoroughbred horse racing.

[1] Part of the Sovereign Awards program since 1975, it is similar to the Eclipse Award for American Horse of the Year honours given in the United States.

The original eligibility rules stipulated that the winner be a Canadian-bred horse that did its "best running" in Canada.

In 1964, the rule was altered for Northern Dancer, who was a Canadian-bred but whose most notable wins came in the United States when he won the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes.

[2] Eventually the requirement that the horse be a Canadian-bred was also dropped.